Chapter 357: Young White-Haired Leader Assembles Twelve Troops

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Fenghuo Xizhuhou

The yin entity, having absorbed Fifth He's complete cultivation, suddenly gained immense good fortune. Its "joyful" countenance became genuinely animated, radiating a hint of spiritual essence and vitality. With a sweep of its sleeve, its body flew backward through the air. The red-robed entity, like a large crimson bat, drifted towards the three guest experts from Tibing Mountain who were concealed in the distance. Xu Beizhi could only hear horrific tearing sounds and agonizing wails. Witnessing this inexplicable death match firsthand, Xu Beizhi felt as if he were lost in a thick fog, with so many questions piling up that he could barely breathe. He saw Xu Fengnian sway precariously. Qingniao appeared behind him, not offering direct support, but standing back-to-back, her body leaning slightly forward to prevent Xu Fengnian from collapsing to the ground. Xu Beizhi's heart ached with sympathy, wondering where he would ever find such a devoted master-servant pair again.

Leaning against Qingniao, Xu Fengnian reached up to wipe away the black, ink-like blood that covered his face. He didn't attempt to use his qi to heal; his Great Yellow Court was no longer within him, having been implanted into Fifth He's body as a longevity-proving medicinal primer. Feeling a profound emptiness, just as he was about to speak, the Spring Thunder Blade in his left hand slipped and fell to the ground. Even as he lost consciousness, Xu Fengnian couldn't utter the words to warn Qingniao about the yin entity.

After an unknown length of time, Xu Fengnian felt himself in a state between sleep and wakefulness. In a haze, he sensed he was in a small pond teeming with lotus flowers. Unfortunately, they were all withered and ancient. Otherwise, with petals of purple and gold fallen on the leaves, a full pond in bloom would surely have been a delightful sight. Xu Fengnian then recalled it was already autumn. He only knew he was in a lotus pond, but not whether he was sitting cross-legged in the water or floating above it. His seven souls and six spirits felt like the withered lotus in the pond, with only a faint lingering essence remaining. Xu Fengnian simply gazed aimlessly at the pond. Throughout this time, early autumn brought rains as large as soybeans, late autumn winds rustled the lotus leaves, and then winter brought heavy, goose-feather snow that destroyed all the lotus leaves. Finally, with the arrival of spring and the awakening of insects, Xu Fengnian saw a single lotus stalk slowly emerge from the empty, desolate pond. There was only one small purple-gold lotus bud, still far from blooming. Yet, Xu Fengnian felt genuine joy, recalling the festive mood of hanging new peach talismans during his childhood. Upon his initial arrival in Beiliang, the imperial Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Clan Court shirked responsibility, refusing even a symbolic expenditure of tens of thousands of taels of silver. Xu Xiao then personally funded the construction of a princely mansion on Qingliang Mountain, exceeding the official scale. When the mansion was completed, Li Yishan composed the spring couplets, which Xu Fengnian then wrote. The most memorable one was the six-character phrase: "Auspiciously long, spring celebration with abundance." Xu Fengnian gazed intently at the swaying bud, gently stirred by the breeze, but it stubbornly refused to bloom. He waited and waited, until his head throbbed as if splitting. When he suddenly opened his eyes, there was no small pond or solitary lotus, only Qingniao's drawn face. Seeing her young master awaken, a hint of life returned to Qingniao's unmoistened eyes. Xu Fengnian found himself lying on a hard plank bed with two sheets. Qingniao softly said, "Young Master, we have already passed through Jinchanshou, but Xu Beizhi said we couldn't go straight south, so we made a detour. We are now on Yanjia Lake, which borders Gushi and Longyao prefectures."

Xu Fengnian asked, "How many days have I been asleep?"

Qingniao replied sadly, "Six days and six nights."

Xu Fengnian exhaled slowly. His entire body ached, but the pain was a good sign, a blessing in disguise, that he hadn't been rendered a cripple. He sat up, and Qingniao helped him put on his outer robe. Xu Fengnian then went outside the cabin, standing in the corridor and leaning on the railing. "I know what you're thinking," he began. "Are you blaming yourself for getting me involved with Fifth He? You really don't need to. It's like people who've never experienced minor ailments or misfortunes; if they truly fall ill, they might not survive even a single episode, unlike those who are frequently sick throughout the year and live longer. Furthermore, even before I entered Beiliang, I had intended to temper my blade along the journey, ultimately using a Finger Profound Realm master as my final test. Killing a demon like Xie Ling, who had fallen from his cultivation realm, simply wouldn't have been satisfying enough."

Qingniao remained silent. Knowing he excelled at sharp-tongued sarcasm but was clumsy at offering comfort, Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "I'll tell you some good news: I have now reached the Pseudo-Finger Profound Realm."

Qingniao's hand, which had been carefully poised to support Xu Fengnian's weakened body, trembled slightly.

Entering the pseudo-realm often means that one will never truly grasp the genuine profound mysteries. A true Finger Profound Master can seemingly accomplish the impossible, like "scooping the moon with a bamboo basket." However, for those in the pseudo-realm, their efforts are as futile as "scooping water with a bamboo basket"—they will only find emptiness.

Xu Fengnian, never one to sugarcoat the truth, spoke frankly: "Logically, with my Great Yellow Court and the grace of the Dragon Tree Monk, I had already embarked on the path of the Great Vajra. Losing the Great Yellow Court is equivalent to losing the Great Vajra, so it's more accurate to say I've regressed in realm rather than advanced. Moreover, the drawback of the pseudo-realm is that it's extremely difficult to enter the true realm from it later on. But we should always find contentment. What's wrong with the pseudo-realm? It's still a Pseudo-Finger Profound Realm, after all. Even that influential Qingci Chancellor Zhao Danping in the capital hasn't reached this realm. The Great Yellow Court is gone, but I don't think it necessarily means it can't revive, like 'spring winds blowing new life.' The first rank encompasses four realms: the Buddhist Vajra Indestructible, the Daoist Finger-Tapping Longevity, the Confucian Heaven-and-Earth Resonance (leading to Emulating Heaven and Earth), and finally, the Land Immortals—all reaching the same destination by different paths. For ordinary martial artists, the four realms progress sequentially, with few exceptions of those who transcend realms. For practitioners of the three teachings, the constraints are far fewer, and they generally do not refer to themselves as Land Immortals. Regardless of whether this was an advancement or a regression, I've found a path. Even if it's a divergent one, I want to follow it to the very end and see what lies there. Stepping back, Xu Xiao was merely a second-rank martial artist, not particularly impressive in his martial prowess. A while ago, Xu Beizhi and I had an argument; neither of us conceded, but deep down, I secretly agreed with him. One must fulfill the duties of one's position. To be the King of Beiliang, one must rely on strategy to succeed. As a mere commoner, if I lack the ability to take heads from two imperial palaces, then my existence holds little significance."

Xu Beizhi, standing not far away, gave a wry smile. "To be honest, I actually find myself agreeing with you more now. One can never have too many skills."

Xu Fengnian asked, "Are we taking this route?"

Xu Beizhi replied gravely, "The generals of the Yanjia Lake Navy are my grandfather's trusted protégés. When I originally traveled to Beiliang alone, I was scheduled to pass through this very place."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "The Yanjia Lake Navy—this indicates the Northern Mang Empress is planning for a future southward invasion. The north-south confrontation has historically revolved around three defenses: guarding the Yellow River, guarding the Huai River, and guarding the Yangtze River. Two of these directly involve the navy, so it's indeed wise to make early preparations."

Xu Beizhi's eyes lit up at the mention of the three defenses. Xu Fengnian, however, replied testily, "I don't have the strength to lecture you on grand strategy right now. Besides, this three-defense strategy originated from my second sister. If you have any insights, you can go to Beiliang and argue with her yourself."

Xu Beizhi smiled slightly. "I've long heard that the Xu family's second princess is brimming with military strategies, and her poetry and prose are entirely heroic, completely unburdened by feminine delicacy. I admire her greatly."

Xu Fengnian teased, "Let me give you a heads-up: if you truly meet my eccentric second sister, avoid that kind of talk, or you might find yourself sliced by a sword."

Xu Beizhi accepted this goodwill, looked out at the lake, and sighed. "My grandfather always believed the key to Northern Mang's future lay in whether Dong Zhuo or Hong Jingyan would become the next Tuoba Bodhisattva. This time, Fifth He's sudden death at your hands has solved Dong Zhuo's urgent problem and eliminated his future concerns. After the Battle of Hulu Pass, a rift was inevitable between Dong Zhuo and Fifth He. Fifth He once said that as long as he was alive, Dong Zhuo, as his son-in-law, could forget about extending his influence into Tibing Mountain and the Rouran Mountains. Now, to appease Dong Zhuo, who lost around seven thousand personal guards, and because the Empress had long wished to foster a rising young faction in the Southern Dynasty, I estimate that the more than twenty-six thousand heavily armored cavalry from Rouran's Five Garrisons will all fall under Dong Zhuo's command. Dong Zhuo has always lacked heavy cavalry; with the Rouran cavalry, he will be like a tiger with wings."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Xu Beizhi, if Dong Zhuo intends to contend with Beiliang, it will likely take him several more years, won't it?"

Xu Beizhi glared, "He who does not plan far ahead will find trouble at his doorstep!"

Xu Fengnian nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips, "You are right to lecture me."

Xu Beizhi felt as if his punch had landed on cotton, leaving him deeply unsatisfied. He snorted coldly, turned, and entered the cabin to continue reading history and gain wisdom.

Xu Fengnian leaned over the railing and saw a solemn, sallow face gazing back at him.

Xu Fengnian reached out and tapped its forehead, smiling, "At least you have some conscience; you didn't burn the bridge after crossing or kick someone when they're down."

The yin entity, clinging to the warship's wall, stretched into a grin. Such a human and lively expression startled Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian asked, "Since you haven't left, does that mean I'm still a decent source of nourishment with untapped potential? That's good, that's good. By the way, are you really coming with me to Beiliang?"

The yin entity's nascent soul, having reached the Finger Profound Grand Completion Realm, nodded stiffly.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Fifth He and I constantly schemed against each other, and I rather enjoyed it—that's what they call 'an evil person meets their match.' But we are different; we are straightforward with each other. I'll make you a deal: as long as you protect me back to Beiliang, I'll give you that Great Qin Green Python Armor. From then on, you can consider the Beiliang Prince's Residence your new home. How about that?"

The yin entity, still silent, seemed about to transform its Ksitigarbha countenance into its joyful one. Xu Fengnian pressed a finger to it and chuckled, "Don't transform anymore; it's unsettling even in broad daylight. I understand the answer."

The four-armed yin entity gracefully slid down the side of the boat, its crimson robe disappearing from sight beneath the lake's surface.

Xu Fengnian turned and leaned against the railing, noticing Qingniao's downcast expression, clearly a result of jealousy towards the yin entity. He almost burst out laughing, but knowing she was sensitive, he didn't expose her, suppressing his amusement as he asked, "Is Fifth He's head properly secured?"

Qingniao nodded.

Xu Fengnian stretched. "This journey to Northern Mang was indeed a bit miserable, constantly being pursued, but the rewards were equally abundant."

The warship, comparable in size to the Huanglong of the Spring God Lake Navy, slowly sailed towards the southern end of Yanjia Lake. Three nights later, a young man with nearly a full head of white hair stood at the bow.

From a distance, Xu Beizhi let out a deep sigh.

Qingniao sat inside the cabin, a Shattered Moment Spear lying across the table.

The young master had just come of age, yet his hair was already turning as white as snow.

Although Xu Fengnian hadn't looked into a bronze mirror, he was well aware of his transformation. Yet, for these three days, his expression remained normal, his heart as calm as still water. His black hair turning white was likely a lingering effect of losing his Great Yellow Court and killing the Pseudo-Celestial Being Fifth He. It merely looked a bit strange, but compared to losing six years of his lifespan, it was trivial. He had even joked with Qingniao that his hair would turn black again eventually, and if it didn't, he wouldn't have to worry about being perceived as untrustworthy when he became the King of Beiliang, lest people say he had "no hair on his mouth, untrustworthy in his deeds." He'd retort, "My hair is almost as white as your ancestors', how can I be unreliable?" If all else failed, it would be simple enough to dye it black with high-quality dye. Xu Fengnian quietly gazed at the moonlit lake, believing that once the boat docked, there would be few further disturbances, allowing them to proceed directly to Ligu Maolong in southern Longyao and return to the Beiliang Prince's Residence before winter.

Xu Fengnian softly spoke, "Mystic Armor, Green Plum, Childhood Sweetheart, Morning Dew, Spring Water, Peach Blossom, Moth Eyebrow, Vermilion Bird, Yellow Paulownia, Mayfly, Golden Thread, Tai'a."

Like a general reviewing his mighty troops on a general's platform.

Twelve flying swords, all perfect sword embryos, emerged from his sleeve and hovered in the air.

Even Deng Tai'a, who was already in the Sword Immortal Realm and still the foremost master of the Finger Profound mysteries, would likely be astonished by Xu Fengnian's incredible speed in nurturing his swords!

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